Iraqis appear to be adjusting to life with an occupying force
An opinion poll suggests most Iraqis feel their lives have improved since the war in Iraq began about a year ago.
The survey, carried out for the BBC and other broadcasters, also suggests many are optimistic about the next 12 months and opposed to violence.

But of the 2,500 people questioned, 85% said the restoration of public security must be a major priority.

Opinion was split about who should be responsible, with an Iraqi government scoring highest.

Creating job opportunities was rated more likely to improve security effectively than hiring more police.

About 6,000 interviews were carried out in total, half in Autumn last year and half this Spring, in a project run by Oxford Research International (ORI).

Seventy percent of people said that things were going well or quite well in their lives, while only 29% felt things were bad.

And 56% said that things were better now than they were before the war.

ORI's director Dr Christoph Sahm, said Iraqis trained as interviewers travelled around the country to speak to randomly selected people in their homes.

The survey reflected Iraq's distribution of population, balance between men and women, and religious and ethnic mix.

Hope on streets of Baghdad
Dr Sahm said: "I would call it very extensive; It is a national survey and it is also representative... the key finding is that Iraqis don't want to break up the country."

Meanwhile, an ICM poll of British attitudes about the Iraq war for BBC Newsnight's special programme, One Year On - Iraq, reveals that 48% of those questioned thought taking military action was the right thing to do; 43% thought it was not.

There is an almost even split on whether the war was legal, while 34% of interviewees believe the war has contributed to the security of the UK against 55% who believe it has not.

US 'will take heart'

In the poll of Iraqis, nearly 80% favoured a unified state with a central government in Baghdad; only 14% opted for a system of regional governments combined with a federal authority.

The majority was even bigger among Iraqi Arabs and Shia Muslims, but for the Kurdish minority, the situation was reversed, with more than 70% backing a federal system.

There is an existing Kurdish regional government in the north, the powers of which were recognised by Iraq's interim constitution, signed last week.

BBC diplomatic correspondent Barnaby Mason says the American and British governments will take some comfort from the results.

The survey shows overwhelming disapproval of political violence, especially of attacks on the Iraqi police but also on American and other coalition forces.

About 15% say foreign forces should leave Iraq now, but many more say they should stay until an Iraqi government is in place or security is restored.

Looking back, more Iraqis think the invasion was right than wrong, although 41% felt that the invasion "humiliated Iraq".

Dan Plesch, a security expert at Birkbeck college in London said that the poll was good news for the leaders of countries who began the invasion a year ago this week.

"This poll indicates that Iraqis strongly support a unified country with strong leadership. They don't want to see the country divided up and they don't want to see an Islamic government."

Regaining security is rated as by far the highest priority at 85%, followed by holding elections for a national government (30%), ensuring the majority of Iraqis can make a decent living (30%) and reviving the economy (28%).

And only just over a third of people report that their electricity supply is good.

A key concern for the Americans as they prepare to hand over power in June is the unpopularity of the people they are putting in place.

Leaders unloved

Their favoured son Ahmed Chalabi had no support at all, while Saddam Hussein remains one of the six most popular politicians in the country.

Dr Mustafa Alani of the Royal United Services Institute said that the Iraqis wanted a strong leader, but had not found one yet.

"The main point is that the Iraqis are now looking for a strong leader who can save the day.

"As long as the governing council is considered illegitimate and illegal in Iraq, I think they will have to work hard to find something more legitimate and more legal before they disengage from the country."

The numbers quoted in the article are hardly a ringing endorsement of the US invasion and occupation ...

Mar 16, '04

Hardly a ringing endorsement. Perhaps.

But the point is, this is the type of story the US media very seldom reports. It seems that anytime there is positive news, however small, from Iraq it gets lost in the bad news of the day.

For some people, it is very easy for them to downplay the good, and exagerate the bad. Of course, that works both ways, it just depends on a persons personal agenda.

bob

Mar 16, '04

Quote from 2ndCareerRN

Hardly a ringing endorsement. Perhaps.

But the point is, this is the type of story the US media very seldom reports. It seems that anytime there is positive news, however small, from Iraq it gets lost in the bad news of the day.

For some people, it is very easy for them to downplay the good, and exagerate the bad. Of course, that works both ways, it just depends on a persons personal agenda.

bob

True enough.

I DID hear a report quite similar to this just a few minutes ago on CNN. It said the country was pretty much split down the middle in their opinions. A slight majority 48% to 46% felt that things were better now.

The report I heard also mentioned that water and electric was now running more than not, and it also stated that most were opposed to outright violence including against coalition troops. It also said that while most Iraqis would prefer the troops to leave ASAP, they did want them to stick around just a little while longer, however, until things became a little more stabilized.

So see??? This news DID make the press afterall !

Mar 16, '04

Quote from 2ndCareerRN

Hardly a ringing endorsement. Perhaps.

But the point is, this is the type of story the US media very seldom reports. It seems that anytime there is positive news, however small, from Iraq it gets lost in the bad news of the day.

For some people, it is very easy for them to downplay the good, and exagerate the bad. Of course, that works both ways, it just depends on a persons personal agenda.

bob

You are SO right bob. Positive news about Iraq does get buried for some reason or another. It's sad, b/c I know that our troops are working hard in Iraq and making progress. I find myself relying on info from troops coming home in my area or troops who are still there writing letters home.

Mar 16, '04

Quote from mkue

Positive news about Iraq does get buried for some reason or another.

some positive news... like there are positivly no WMD's...... Bush lied

Mar 16, '04

I had heard about this poll.

>>> a positive surprise for coalition forces and the US-led administration in Iraq as they continue to grapple with a determined guerrilla insurgency and widespread social problems a year after Saddam's fall. Iraqis often complain about a lack of security, the scarcity of jobs and their fears for the future, but the survey suggests that despite this, most feel life has improved.<<<http://www.telegraphindia.com/104031...ry_3013491.asp

my big wonder is was there any difference between the half-sample from last fall and that from now. other wonders regards reliability of sampling, and after downloading the poll [thanks for including the link] I also have a few doubts regards validity of the [so many!] questions, but still am hoping Iraqi's do feel their lives have/will improve.

Mar 17, '04

Hey! Are there any 'positive polls' out there for how Afghanis feel? :hatparty:

Mar 17, '04

Do you mean the ones in Kabul, or the ones elsewhere in Afghanistan where it is too dangerous for foreign civilians to travel?

Mar 18, '04

Well, it's not exactly an overwhelming majority, is it? That means that coalition forces only have to worry about HALF of the people trying to harm them, right?? THe problem comes with figuring out who is part of what half.

I wish it were true, but it is probably flawed. I think this because women tend to NOT be allowed to speak their own opinion, and must agree with their husband/father/male head of household. Just MHO.

Mar 18, '04

Quote from wjf00

some positive news... like there are positivly no WMD's...... Bush lied

positive news as in the hard work that our troops and coalition forces are continuing to accomplish in Iraq despite the pockets of resistance they face day to day.

Mar 18, '04

I suppose it is the "pockets of resistance" who dislike the puppet government we are installing so badly, that they would rather have Saddam back than Chalabi, the neocons' favoured stooge.

Mar 19, '04

I think a puppet govt. is a far cry better than having SH and his regime in control...but then I've never been loyal to SH or terrorists.